Sunday, October 7, 2012

Rippler - Cidney Swanson


Rippler by Cidney Swanson

Quick & Dirty:
  • Some overly convenient coincidences that got respectable explanations.
  • Perfect for young adults - written well for that age but still enjoyable by adults
  • I really liked the characters by the end, enough that I wanted to smack them both upside the head; in the most lovingly way possible
Long & Wordy:
Fair warning: this is a book review, where I will talk about the book.  That means you may find some of this could be classified as a “spoiler”.  Proceed at your own risk.
I think I need to begin the long and wordy with a quick story (skip this paragraph if you just want to learn about the book).  There seems to be something about the authors I talk to that suggest curling up with some chocolate or ice cream while I’m reading.  Maybe it’s just that they get as much enjoyment out of the reading as the writing…I don’t know but I laughed when I had yet  another author  telling me to pack on the calories while I was being sedentary.  By the end of the book I think I realized I was onto something, and it’s not just that ice cream + books (-mess) = equals fantastic.  I think the down-to-Earth attitudes of these authors just means I’m going to love the book.  
ONTO THE STORY!
So, basic idea, there are “chameleons” who “ripple” and can disappear.  This is explained in a way that is not a butchered attempt at an excessive breakdown of the ability while trying to explain how the world works and our place in the universe.  Really it was straightforward and felt plausible because it wasn’t being crammed down your throat.  +1 for believability.
I think that there was also an excellent balance between exploring what their abilities are and plot advancement.  I hate stories that stop to show the abilities of characters. Even more than that, I hate stories that completely skip this exploration all together.  This book had a very nice mix.
I think the relationship between the two main characters felt very real and not one of the rushed / life-ending-if-something-happens types of relationships that have become big in YA. 
A quick THANK YOU to the author: 
Dear Cidney Swanson,
Thank you.  Thank you for owning the characters’ abilities, it makes it much more believable.  And that, the believablility, really makes the difference between a good book and a terrible one far too many times.
With Gratitude,
Ramplo
Now, on a darker side, I didn’t feel that the secondary characters felt as real.  One example of this is Mick, I just didn’t feel her as being real.  Her actions were too exaggerated, too…just too much something.
Then there are the super minor flaws like “theory” vs. “hypothesis”, miniscule…too little to make any kind of a stink over and scare you away.
I thoroughly recommend this book, I truly enjoyed it and I hope you do too. Check it out.
5/5
***I received this book as an ARC, this in no way affected my review***

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